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Wisconsin state lawmakers weigh in on dairy labeling

Thirty-three members of Wisconsin’s State Senate and Assembly have asked the Food and Drug Administration to revise their draft guidance for labeling plant-based alternatives to dairy products.

In a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, the state lawmakers want the FDA to make it indisputable that products made from nuts, seeds, plants, and algae are prohibited from using terms such as milk, yogurt, or cheese.  They also point out the nutritional superiority of real dairy products compared to their plant-based counterparts and that not enforcing the existing standards of identity is a disservice to consumers.

The lawmakers say FDA’s recent action on labeling plant-based products fails to address the concerns of their constituents in the dairy industry, an industry that accounts for almost half of Wisconsin’s 104.8 billion dollar economic impact.

The letter from Wisconsin lawmakers to the FDA commissioner can be seen below: